John Selden: A Life in Scholarship

G. J. Toomer

John Selden: A Life in Scholarship

G. J. Toomer

Description

Professor Toomer's book is not only an indispensable reference work but also provides the first thorough treatment of the scholarship of John Selden, acknowledged as the most learned man of 17th-century England. All of his numerous published works, especially in the fields of history, law, and Hebraica, are critically examined and described in detail. The narrative also relates his writings to contemporary events, in the Civil War and the parliaments (including the Long Parliament) in which he played a prominent part, and to the work of other scholars in Europe (notably Scaliger and Grotius) and in Britain (including Camden and Ussher). Selden's involvement with the Universities, the support of libraries, and the promotion of scholarship is discussed. The work will be an essential resource, not only for the life of a major figure of his time, but also for the intellectual history of 17th-century England in general.

John Selden: A Life in Scholarship

G. J. Toomer

Table of Contents

1: Early Years: Education 2: The Inner Temple and Literary London 3: The Resources for Scholarship in the Early 17th Century Classical and Medieval Texts Ancient inscriptions Numismatics Legal texts and treatises Hebrew and other non-European texts Libraries Acquisition of books and manuscripts Archives Forgeries and Romances The Bible as a historical authority Chronology Etymologies 4: Early WorksAnalecta AnglobritannicaJanus AnglorumEngland's EpinomisDuelloIllustrations to Poly-Olbion Critique to the early works 5: 'Antiquarian' WritingsTitles of Honor 1614Titles of Honor 1631Of the Iewes sometimes living in EnglandLetter to Vincent 6: Writings on English Legal HistoryFortescueHenghamOriginal of Testaments and Intestates GoodsDissertatio ad Fletam 7: De Diis Syris DS 1617 The reception of De Diis Syris DS 1629 Critiques of De Diis Syris 8: The Historie of Tithes Tithes and 'divine right' Why did Selden write Historie of Tithes? Composition of Historie of Tithes Significance of the title Publication of the book The Preface Tithes in the Old Testament Tithes among the Gentiles History of tithes among Christians generally History of tithes in England The Review Critique of Historie of Tithes The aftermath 9: The Social and Political Background to Selden's Later Work Patrons, friends and acquaintances The Virginia Company Parliaments Imprisonment and bail 10: Works on English Medieval HistoryEadmer Matthew Paris (1640)Historiae Anglicanae Scriptores 11: Marmora Arundelliana The inscriptions The edition Critique of Marmora Arundelliana 12: Mare Clausum Origin and publication of the book Book I Book II Critiques and reception of Mare Clausum 13: Earlier Works on Jewish Law Selden's approach to Jewish LawDe Successionibus in Bona Defuncti Features of the 1636 editionDe Successione in Pontificatum 14: De Iure Naturali Origin of the book Title and Preface Book I Books II-VII Critiques of De Iure Naturali 15: The Long Parliament and the Promotion of Scholarship Selden in the Long Parliament Religion and the Westminster Assembly The Universities Libraries Aid to scholars and promotion of scholarshipTable Talk 16: Arabic Studies Helpers and aids to study Biblical and Christian religious works Eutychius The Koran Other Arabic works Printing in Arabic Selden's contribution to Arabic studies 17: Karaite Influences: De Anno Civili & Uxor EbraicaDe Anno CiviliUxor Abraica 18: De SynedriisDe Synedriis IDe Synedriis IIDe Synedriis III Critiques of De Synedriis 19: Death and Legacy Deathbed scenes Funeral and Tomb Selden's Will The fate of Selden's library 20: Selden in the History of Scholarship Paradigms of scholarship: Selden and Ussher Purpose of scholarship Methodology Relations with other scholars Selden's influence Appendices A. Selden's "autobiography" B. Legal Texts C. Trinoda Necessitas D. The 'third edition' of De Diis Syris E. Selden's letter to Taylor on oriental studies F. Capistrum Iudaeorum G. The "Selden" emendations of Dio Chrysostom

John Selden: A Life in Scholarship

G. J. Toomer

Author Information

John Selden: A Life in Scholarship

G. J. Toomer

Reviews and Awards

"This two-volume study of the writings of John Selden - arguably seventeenth-century England's greatest scholar - displays immense learning worthy of its subject. Toomer is to be congratulated for his magnificent achievement." - Ariel Hessayon, Journal of Ecclesiastical History

"The most learned of English scholars, Selden has been an object of awe and wonder for more than three and a half centuries, but has proved simply too learned, too inaccessible or too obscure for even experts to form any sense of his total achievement. Thanks to this remarkable and possible unrepeatable commentary, now we can." - William Poole, Times Higher Education Supplement

"... Selden the scholar has left a body of work which could be assessed only by a scholar as formidably learned as himself. He has been fortunate indeed in having at last found such an interpreter." - George Garnett, Times Literary Supplement